antarktika wrote:When I play on a gridded controller, I tend to play in completely different ways than I would on a keyboard, more big note jumps and the like, since (at least with Nativekontrol's LPC script on launchpad) they are stacked in a 4x4 block I just tend to play entirely differently. With keyboards I usually do more flowing melodies with less jumping around, so I'll go with no, not a replacement, but a great compliment.

100% agree. I also play totally different on the grid. It wouldn't replace keys if you are already used to playing on a standard keyboard. But it's great for forcing you to do something different.

Spot on. I play differently on the push, so my music is coming out a hit different right now. I'm working in NOT trying to reproduce what I can do on a regular keyboard because I can already play a regular keyboard very well. I can always pull out my SL MK2 and play the intricate parts of a piano line or complex string arrangement. It's coming up with all of the non-muscle memory things with Push that have been inspiring. Into grate that with the ability to switch to the drum rack mode and its definitely been a fun controller to use. Most fun I've had with any controller purchase, hands down.

I've really enjoyed jamming out melodies with Push, but only in chromatic mode so far. One of the best things about it is if you have a background in guitar playing, then the same patterns between the intervals exist on the rows on Push as strings on a guitar, and they're the same all the way up.

I do have the same complaints about the pads for sustained notes though -- the lack of depth to the pads are great for drums, but not so good for holding chords.

I do love how you can stay on the notes page and keep advancing scenes using the up/down arrows, too.

I agree, and it's starting to bother me. I think I'm going to exchange this one because I want to "make sure" but w/o changing the settings, they are a bit tough. What's helped me is when holding down chords is to gentle "push" (no pun intended) the pads down and they hold better as opposed to the playing style I would use with keys.

Besides my minimoog, push is hands down my favorite piece of equipment in my studio. I have a tendency of digging too deep with the mouse/keyboard sometimes and this has allowed me to back away and really feel what I'm doing. I personally have played many instruments growing up but never learned the piano. I do a lot of work with remixing so for me knowing a key of a track, and boom im instantly there in key. This will become a lot of fun in the future for live performers.

sporkles wrote:Shit out of luck trying to try one out in the shop; the demand is too big for them to keep a demo unit.

You should go to a live show or ask a local artist when they are playing next. There must be a community of people who own them if they are in such high demand where you live! I wouldn't say no to anyone wanting to learn more about production and wanted to check out equipment that I own. I personally watched all the videos about PUSH on Ableton.com and bought one literally the next day.

eyeknow wrote:I have a pretty light touch and I'm noticing that the note/off happens a little too easily vs my impulse which the light touch stays consistent. This might be because I have it set to default, or maybe I have a questionable controller?

csl wrote:I do have the same complaints about the pads for sustained notes though -- the lack of depth to the pads are great for drums, but not so good for holding chords.

I don't own Push, but I could tell that it seems to be an issue just from all the videos that I have seen. Did you think a foot pedal would make a difference?

I got to try one today; went to a different store and sat down to play with it for about 45 minutes. At 30 minutes, I caught myself thinking "there's no way I'm walking out of here without a Push" (no pun intended). But then I started mulling things over a bit, and realised I WANTED a Push, but that I don't NEED a Push.

I walked out of the store empty-handed, but I'm sort of glad. On my way out, I tapped around on a MiniBrute, and I thought "I'm actually fine with keys". I'm not saying I won't ever get a Push, because I really loved playing around with it, and it felt really intuitive and very well suited to my way of playing melodies.

At this point, I think the ideal setup for me would be two 25-key keyboard controllers stacked "depthwise", so that I can have my mouse next to them. My 61-key Axiom is simply too big for my use.